University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Associate Director, Joiners Program, Venture Lab

Job Profile Title

Associate Director C, Student Services, Academic Programs

Job Description Summary

Founded in 1881 as the worlds first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a diverse population of staff, representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

This position is contingent upon funding.

Job Description

The Associate Director C provides leadership for Venture Lab's key strategic priorities through the delivery, management, and end-to-end operations for a portfolio of co-curricular programs and awards for students interested in joining or advising ventures, including Snider Consulting, Practicum, and the Startup Internship Awards. The Associate Director C will also support Venture Lab operations including but not limited to participating in Start Here Mondays and other duties as assigned.

The Venture Lab Practicum is for students with an interest in working at an early-stage venture, particularly as one of the first employees or in joining an early-stage venture as a co-founder. The Associate Director C manages and is responsible for end-to-end execution of the Practicum, including but not limited to marketing, sourcing and scoping projects, recruiting student applicants, application, selection & onboarding process, student communication & relationship management, monitoring engagements, engagement close-out, administrative tasks, website updates, & reporting.

The Snider Consulting Program employs student workers who work in teams on projects sourced from startups in the Penn and local entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Associate Director C leads the client recruitment process, manages the client contracting process, and manages the student worker recruitment, hiring, and administrative onboarding process. The Associate Director C is responsible for directly managing the human resources who lead the student teams, as well as providing oversight of the student workers and any other volunteers/mentors. This role is responsible for enacting monitoring and quality control procedures for program deliverables and human resources.

The Associate Director C will manage and administer Venture Lab's Startup Internship Award. This includes marketing, application and selection processes, communication with stakeholders, award disbursement, data tracking, and reporting. This role is responsible for developing and organizing programming, including workshops, to strategically expand students' learning and provide supportive opportunities and resources for Joiner students. This role will be Venture Lab's liaison to MBA Career Management and Penn Career Services and will build community and relationships with key Penn organizations including student clubs.

For all assigned programs, the Associate Director C is responsible for budget management and creation of annual work plans, preparation of data-driven reports, data collection and management, and tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve, iterate, and scale programming. The Associate Director C will collaborate with Venture Lab staff (e.g., marketing, operations, etc.) to promote these initiatives and identify creative ways to connect with a broad range of audiences. The Associate Director C will also be responsible for assessing program evolution and/or expansion, proposing a strategic approach and expansion plan, and executing the approved plan. The position requires frequent interaction with seasoned, accomplished alumni entrepreneurs and CEOs, Penn partners, including the Penn Center for Innovation and the Office of General Counsel, and other professionals, including significant donors.

The Associate Director C must be able to work early mornings, evenings, and weekend hours as needed. This position is located in Philadelphia on Penn's campus. After successful completion of the introductory period, this position is hybrid eligible with some weeks requiring more in-person work as needed. This position is contingent on continued funding.

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree and a minimum of 3-5 years experience are required, preferably in a university setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required experience includes:

• Demonstrated supervisory experience

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills

• Strong collaboration and team building skills; organizational and project management skills

• Demonstrated creativity, forward-thinking mindset, problem-solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment, and decision-making skills.

• Attention to detail and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

• High level of judgment and professionalism in cultivating relationships with persons of importance, particularly alumni.

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate an open rapport and a professional, supportive educational approach with undergraduate and graduate student students from all disciplines and grade levels.

• Demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship through an educational lense.

Required experience includes:

• Previous experience in working on consulting-type projects, preferably with startups or small businesses.

• Previous experience in business or client development and/or sales.

• Previous experience managing an internship program and/or student interns.

• Ability to manage online platforms, websites, and CRM tools such as Eventbrite, Salesforce, and Brightspot CMS.

• Technical proficiency in data collection and analysis tools like Pitchbook, SurveyMonkey Apply, and Qualtrics.

• Data-driven mindset with experience in data collection, management, and analysis

A resume and cover letter are required to be considered for this role.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $75,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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  To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

  The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.